The principle Buddhist gods include both: Cognized individual beings such as Fudo, Aizen, the Four Heavenly Kings (for example Bonten or Brahma, Taishaku or Shakra or Indra, friends, family members, and helpful animals; and protective functions such as the gods of the sun and moon, gravity and the other laws of physics, chemistry and biology.
Here I would like to talk mainly about the two Siddham character gods on the sides of Gohonzon, Aizen on the left facing the Gohonzon (8) and Fudo on the right (9).
Before I begin the discussion, here is what Nichiren says about the Buddhist gods:
Robin Beck writes on his Fraught With Peril blog:
Aizen Myo [Ragaraja] is The Wisdom King of lusty, passionate, greed]:
“愛柔 明王 {Aizen-myo’o}:
Ai means something like infatuation. The kanji read zen means stained or dyed. Aizen is a translation of raga. It is translated as passion, lust, greed, desire, gluttony, & craving; among other things. I think I like infatuation for raga.
The myo means light, a translation of vidya, meaning objective wisdom. The O is, of course a translation of raja, meaning king. (Skt: Ragaraja) A Buddhist deity who is said to purify people’s afflictions and free them from illusions {hleshas, bonnos} and the sufferings accruing from afflictions. In the esoteric teaching his true identity is regarded as Dainichi (Skt: Mahavairochana) Buddha or Kongosatta (Vajrasattva). Aizen is pictured on the Diamond World mandala and is depicted as being red in color with three eyes, six arms and a furious expression. In his hand he has a bow and arrows. His name is inscribed in Siddha, a medieval Sanskrit orthography, on the left-hand side of the Gohonzon as one faces it, signifying the principle that afflictions are enlightenment (Jap: bonno soku bodai). -- Source: A Dictionary of Buddhist Terms and Concepts. NSIC: Tokyo. 1983. 1990.
Other meanings of Aizen:
[Basic Meaning:] impassioned; To be caught by desire/attachment(Skt. rakta, saṃrakta, amiṣa; Tib. chags pa; kun tu chags pa) [cmuller; source(s): Nakamura,S.Hodge]; the taint of desire. (Skt. tṛṣṇ�, r�ga, ) [cmuller; source(s): Soothill, Hirakawa]
The Flammarion Iconographic Guide: Buddhism states:
“This Vidyaraja, who is venerated almost exclusively in Japan, is a deity of conception. He is the king of the magic science of attraction or of love. ‘Aizen Myo-o represents in fact the amorous passion as it appears sublimated in the perspective of esotericism: victorious over itself, not by suppression as normally taught, but by a greater exaltation transmuted into a desire for Awakening.’ He is sometimes identified with a ferocious form of Vairocana, although he is not one of the five great Vidyarajas. ” (p.213)
The Guide also says:
“Due to his combative force, Fudo is invoked in many circumstances, chiefly against attacks of sickness – not because he is considered as a healer, but as an effective force to combat impurities and demons that cause illness. He is also invoked for protection against persons feared to be harmful and against spells cast by sorcerers. Fudo is also often considered as the defender of Japan against attack from external enemies. For all these reasons, he must be one of the Buddhist deities most often invoked in Japan, and also one of the most popular. The temples and sanctuaries dedicated to him are found throughout the countryside, in cities and at crossroads. Most of these temples belong to the Shingon and Tendai sects. Members of the Nichiren sect also worship him, mainly as the ‘protector of the state’.” (p.208)
“Aizen Myo-o is still venerated by the Japanese, and is often invoked in connection with petitions concerning love. Apart from this, he is not a popular deity except among artists, geishas and others in professions connected with matters of love.” (p.214)
The seed syllable hum http://www.visiblemantra.org/hum.html
However, we clarify Aizen Myo ["Earthly Desires Are Equal To Enlightenment"] from the perspective of Nichiren’s Lotus Sutra Buddhism and most importantly, the true meaning of the Gohonzon, faith in the Lotus Sutra, and faith in Eternal Buddha:
The SGI’s reliance on Aizen Myo and their misunderstanding of the concept of Earthly Desires Equal Enlightenment [which should read, Delusions Equal to Enlightenment], is equivalent to a separate enshrinement of this deity. It is a great slander of the Law. They misunderstand the very nature of the Gohonzon while the position of The Master of Teachings Lord Shakya of the Original Doctrine of the Lotus Sutra and thus the Gohonzon itself is diminished. This is the fundamental cause for their lack of benefits and their punishment.
Nichiren Daishonin writes:
“For all the beings of this country of Japan the Buddha Shakya is Ruler, Teacher, and Parent. Even the Heavenly Deities, the Five Generations of the Earthly Deities, and the Ninety generations, gods [kami] and humans, of the Human Kings are subordinates of the Buddha Shakya.” [Myoho bikuni gohenji or Reply to Bhikshuni Myoho]
Subordinates refer to retainers or vassels. Aizen Myo or Delusion is Equal to Enlightenment is subordinate to Shakyamuni Buddha of the Juryo Chapter and the Buddha nature of the Amala consciousness. Therefore, earthly desires are subordinate to the Great Desire for Buddhahood and the spread of the True Teachings.
In reply to Various People [Shonen Gohenji] we read:
“The whole of the country of Japan one and all will become the disciples and lay donors of Nichiren. Those who have left the household life among my disciples will become teachers of the Emperor and Retired Emperor. The housholders will be ranged among the Ministers of the Left and of the Right. Or even the whole of Jambudvipa will all revere this doctrine.”
This is why we have priests to clarify the teachings and the danger of those unlearned SGI men and women, those who claim to have attained what they have not, teaching the Lotus Sutra and the meaning of the doctrines of Nichiren Daishonin. The whole of “Give Adoration” [Namu] includes Aizen Myo who gives adoration to Namu Myoho renge kyo.
Therefore, our earthly desires or delusions give way to Namu Myoho renge kyo, not the other way around as taught in the Soka Gakkai. They are confused about the Gohonzon and they are confused about the Buddha. How could they not be confused about everything else. Do not believe them, not about anything. If you want guidance go to the source. Go to the Lotus Sutra and the writings of Nichiren Daishonin and, if you still have questions, seek out a priest who knows the heart of the Sutra.
Let the karmic retribution of many SGI’s top leaders [as well as the theoretical proof proffered here] be a warning to those who follow. It would be better to outlaw the SGI distorted teachings than offer up ten thousand prayers.
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